LEATHER WORKING LUNETTE KNIFE

[drac2k]

The noise generated by wind turbines has been attributed by some as the cause for whales beaching themselves. On a more serious note these "wind mills," produce infrasonic sound waves that have been proven to be detrimental to humans and weaponized by various countries.
One step forward, two steps back.

[fernando]

Duly noted ... and applauded .

[Interested Party]

Nice video of one of these knives in action for those who have never seen one.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eBPVH...?feature=share

[Jim McDougall]

Thanks very much I.P.
When I acquired this, I was thinking of Eskimo 'ulu', which are of course often in wide variation, but in a number of references showed examples which were virtually identical to this.
The deeply stamped makers mark suggested possibly a British or American item, and again several references showed similar crescent bladed knives as whalers flensing knives of 19th c.

All of these combined led me to believe this example (OP) might be one of these. However most flensing activity references showed larger bladed tools and often on poles.

Finally I contacted a Whalers Museum in Massachusetts which noted my example was not a flensing knife and likely indeed a leather working tool.
In degree disappointed, I still like the item as probably a late 19th to early 20th knife for leather work as shown, and interesting in that respect.
Thank you for sharing this on how it was used.

Both of these illustrations are shown as whalers knives online, both claimed 19th c.

[Interested Party]

The top one looks like the handle is a socket.

[David]

Originally Posted by Interested Party

The top one looks like the handle is a socket.

I agree, which might well indicate this was indeed intended for flensing. The bottom one looks more like a leather working tool, despite what the online description may have been.

[David]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thanks very much I.P.
When I acquired this, I was thinking of Eskimo 'ulu', which are of course often in wide variation, but in a number of references showed examples which were virtually identical to this.

Hi Jim. You might want to consider using the word Inuit (Inuk for a singular person) as these days the term "Eskimo" is considered at best archaic and at worst derogatory.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by David

Hi Jim. You might want to consider using the word Inuit (Ink for a singular person) as these days the term "Eskimo" is considered at best archaic and at worst derogatory.

Oops! I know better, sorry David, thanks for the good catch. Kinda embarrassing.
As noted in the thread, the bottom one is in fact leather working as I discovered when reaching the Whalers Museum. Good lesson in how reliable online searches can often be.
The other with obvious socket for shaft is clearly for the much larger flensing tool....I was simply drawn to the shape.
Never stop learnin' !!!

[Jim McDougall]

David,
In retrospect, I have previously been aware of the issue with the term 'Eskimo' used as a collective term for these tribal people of the north (apparently claimed to involve peoples across the circumpolar regions from Siberia to Greenland), but it would difficult to refer to such a broad spectrum of diverse groups collectively without a common term.

In the 'old' days, I had a close friend from Alaska (Nome), who was of this heritage and always referred to herself as 'Eskimo'. Actually I had really not been aware until recent years there was any problem with this term.
In the references in which I saw the lunette type knives described as 'ulu' (I hope this term is correct and proper) it is noted to be used by Eskimo women. There seem to be a wide variation in shapes for these, so perhaps these might be attributed to specific groups or regions. In those cases where such data is known, I would agree classification might be better applied using specific rather than collective terms.

While I had heard of this 'pejorative' issue with the Eskimo term, I admit I did not understand it, I found this link online written by an individual who is Inuit. He notes that Eskimos are not Inuit; and vice versa. He also notes that in Alaska the Eskimo term is used when collectively referring to the Inupiag and Yupik. He notes the Eskimo do NOT like being called Inuit, and this goes back to issues in the colonial period. ...so certainly the Inuit do NOT like being called Eskimo. I think there may be the 'rub'.

The pejorative angle derives from an apocryphal tale regarding some distortion of a word by French trappers in translation, but that suggestion is questioned as the Eskimo term appears to have predated colonial contact and of course likely different meaning than the pejorative result from the French version.

While my original post here was of an item thought to be an Eskimo 'ulu' knife, which through useful responses revealed, to my disappointment it was something entirely different.

Here we have continued and valued opportunity to learn, and as I noted, I had heard about the 'Eskimo' term issue, but did not understand it , probably because of my past experiences with the friend I noted, as well as some extensive travel in the Pacific Northwest where I have a nephew. There I never encountered any specific discomfort with use of the Eskimo term in various elements where the topic arose.

Researching this further, I wanted to share this link to this site to add some different perspective, which I think would be useful in better understanding this issue.

Again, I would like to thank you for bringing this to my attention. I always try to take care not to offend others, and with this I can be better aware of the boundaries in discussing matters in this anthropological context.

Best regards
Jim

https://www.aaanativearts.com/alaska...o-vs-inuit.htm